The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-30

"Yes, you can if you'll just exercise little judgment"
 ''I wish you'd stay with me-" she said, pleadingly.
 "I'll be back after awhile"
 Beasley and I went down to the lake where the bass had kept the fel- low from washing his hands
 "Now," said my friend when we had seated ourselves in a boat. "we'll have some of the rarest sport that ever fell to the lot of two over worked men. must have fish; there's no use talk ing, for Pm not going home without them"
 We trolled across the lake. Not a strike. "Don't get discouraged" said Beasley. They are apt to strike at any moment. There-no, it's moss. Thought l had one then. Let's cross over."
 We trolled back. Not strike Tell you what we'll do," said Beasley. We'll bait with angle worms and catch boat load of those magnificent sun- perch. They'll bite as fast as we can throw in" We baited with angle- worms, and during two hours devoted ourselves to the sport" Not a nibble. Do you know what's fact?" Beasley re- marked.
 "What?"
 "Why, if we had some fat meat we could catch all the cat fish we want, and let me tell you that there's no finer sport than pulling out cat fish. Pm going up to that house and get some fat meat"
 When he returned his face was beaming. Now" said he, holding up chunk of bacon, "we are fixed"
 We baited with the fat meat. Not the faintest suggestion of a nibble awarded us. "Beasley," I asked, after a long interval of silence, ''what are you thinking off"
 Il was thinking how I would like to have some crickets. When it comes to a question of bait, why crickets take tho lead, that is, if you want to catch rock bass. Say, wouldn't you as leave have rock bass as black bass, sum- perch or catfish?"
 "Pm not in position to exercise a very eXacting choice," 1 replied.
 "All right, then we'll catch rock bass"
 He went into the woods. Pretty soon I heard him yell, and looking up l saw him coming at full speed.
 Whats the matter?" I exclaimed.
 "Oh, Pve got them" he replied, as he stopped just in time to keep from running into the lake. '1've got them, and now we'll throw out fish as fast as an expert can string them."
 We tried the crickets. "What are you going to try next?" asked when, after another hours waiting, we had failed to get bite.
 "I don't know," he replied, scratch ing his head as though trying to think of some other insect. "Tell you what's fact, don't believe these fish are hungry"
 Just then an old negro-as genuine negro as ever sold his vote to the highest bidder-came along.
 "You genermen want some feesh?" he asked.
 "Yes," "replied Beasley. "Got any?"
 "Cotch some O de finest black bass in CT net dis mawnin' eber seed. Say de word, an'll fetch 'em down yere."
 Beasley said the word, and the ne- gro hurried away, soon returning with four very fine bass.
 "They are beauties! !" my friend ex- claimed with enthusiasm and I saw by the expression of the negro's face that Beasley had made mistake.
 "What are they worth?"
 ''Two dollars, sah."
 "What p Beasley exclaimed, "do you want to rob me?"
 "Gwine gimme de two dollars?"
 "No, won't"
 "All right, den. Desc we're feesh'll Hume de fryin' pan at my 'ouse dis ebenin'."
 "Pll give you dollar"
 "Fumes de fryin' pan at my 'ouse dis ebenin', tells yer"
 "Dollar and half," said Beasley, as he looked longingly at the fish.
 "Fumes de fryin'-"
 "Here's your two dollars, you old wretch"
 Putty way ter do," said he as he took the money. "Nice way ter do." Cheat CT man outen his feesh an den call him CT ole wretch"
 "Now," said Beasley, as we walked toward the hotel, "Pll get me basket and some ice, and then Pll be fixed"
 After reaching the hotel. and while Beasley was packing his fish in bas- ket for which he had paid three prices,